From left to right, NASA Exploration Ground System’s Cross-Program Integration Lead Allison Mjoen, Senior Vehicle Operations Manager Matt Czech, Artemis II Launch Director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, and Artemis II Assistant Launch Director Jeremy Graeber, pose for a photo, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, after Matt Czech passed the baton to Charlie Blackwell-Thompson signaling the teams are ready for NASA’s Artemis II SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft to depart the Vehicle Assembly building and head to Launch Complex 39B ahead of the Artemis II mission. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, Artemis II launch director at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, right, and Matt Czech, NASA’s Exploration Ground System’s Senior Vehicle Operations Manager, are seen in Firing Room One of the Rocco A. Petrone Launch Control Center as NASA’s Artemis II Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft, secured to the mobile launcher, roll out of High Bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Complex 39B, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA’s Artemis II test flight will take Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialist Christina Koch from NASA, and Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen from the CSA (Canadian Space Agency), around the Moon and back to Earth no later than April 2026. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

NASA’s Exploration Ground System’s Senior Vehicle Operations Manager Matt Czech, second from left, passes the baton to Artemis II Launch Director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, second from right, as NASA Exploration Ground System’s Cross-Program Integration Lead Allison Mjoen, left, and Artemis II Assistant Launch Director Jeremy Graeber, right, look on, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The passing of the baton signals the teams are ready for NASA’s Artemis II SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft to depart the Vehicle Assembly building and head to Launch Complex 39B ahead of the Artemis II mission. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, Artemis II launch director at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, left, and Matt Czech, NASA’s Exploration Ground System’s Senior Vehicle Operations Manager are seen in Firing Room One of the Rocco A. Petrone Launch Control Center as NASA’s Artemis II Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft, secured to the mobile launcher, roll out of High Bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Complex 39B, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA’s Artemis II test flight will take Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialist Christina Koch from NASA, and Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen from the CSA (Canadian Space Agency), around the Moon and back to Earth no later than April 2026. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, Artemis II launch director at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, left, and Matt Czech, NASA’s Exploration Ground System’s Senior Vehicle Operations Manager are seen in Firing Room One of the Rocco A. Petrone Launch Control Center as NASA’s Artemis II Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft, secured to the mobile launcher, roll out of High Bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Complex 39B, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA’s Artemis II test flight will take Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialist Christina Koch from NASA, and Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen from the CSA (Canadian Space Agency), around the Moon and back to Earth no later than April 2026. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, Artemis II launch director at NASA's Kennedy Space Center and Matt Czech, NASA’s Exploration Ground System’s Senior Vehicle Operations Manager, are seen in Firing Room One of the Rocco A. Petrone Launch Control Center as NASA’s Artemis II Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft, secured to the mobile launcher, roll out of High Bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Complex 39B, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA’s Artemis II test flight will take Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialist Christina Koch from NASA, and Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen from the CSA (Canadian Space Agency), around the Moon and back to Earth no later than April 2026. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Cliff Lanham, fourth from left, ground operations manager with Exploration Ground Systems (EGS), passes the baton to Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, Artemis I launch director, inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on March 16, 2022. Joining them from left, are Stacey Bagg, Matt Czech, and Liliana Villareal, with EGS. Next to Blackwell-Thomson are Jeremy Graeber, deputy launch director, and Teresa Annulis. The Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion will make the trek to Launch Complex 39B for a wet dress rehearsal ahead of launch atop the crawler-transporter 2. Artemis I will be the first integrated test of the SLS and Orion spacecraft. In later missions, NASA will land the first woman and the first person of color on the surface of the Moon, paving the way for a long-term lunar presence and serving as a steppingstone on the way to Mars.